Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Browne, Joseph (1700-1767)
BROWNE, JOSEPH (1700–1767), provost of Queen's College, Oxford, son of George Browne, yeoman, was born at a place called the Tongue in Watermillock, Cumberland, educated at Barton school, and admitted commoner of Queen's College, Oxford, on 21 March 1716-17, the expense of his education being, it is said, partly defrayed by a private benefactor. He was elected tabarder on the foundation of his college, and, having graduated M.A. on 4 Nov. 1724, became a chaplain there. He was elected fellow 1 April 1731, and became a successful tutor; took the degree of D.D. 9 July 1743, and was presented by the college with the living of Bramshot, Hampshire, 1746. In that year he was appointed professor of natural philosophy, and held that office until his death. He was instituted prebendary of Hereford on 9 June of the same year (he was afterwards called into residence), and on 13 Feb. 1752 was collated to the chancellorship of the cathedral. On 3 Dec. 1756 he was elected provost of Queen's College. From 1759 to 1765 he held the office of vice-chancellor of the university. He had a severe stroke of palsy 25 March 1765, and died on 17 June 1767. He edited 'Maffei S. R. E. Card. Barberini postea Urbani VII Poemata,' 1726.
[Hutchinson's History of Cumberland, i. 426, 427; Wood's History and Antiquities of the Colleges and Halls (Gutch), 149, app. 172, 173; History of the University, ii. 871; Le Neve's Fasti (Hardy), i. 494, 496. The lives of Dr. Browne in Chalmers's and Rose's Biographical Dictionaries are taken from Hutchinson's Cumberland.]